During my three-plus decades in ministry, I have attended many social justice rallies, but on Aug.14 I took a step I’ve never taken.

Along with five other fellow members of the clergy, I engaged in an act of civil disobedience by ignoring the command of police officers from the Department of Homeland Security to cease blocking the entrance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) (offices) in Portland.

We were arrested and briefly detained, and will go to our court hearing on Friday, Nov. 2.

This action was organized by the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMMiRJ), which has been calling for the release of 120-plus men from countries around the world who presented themselves to immigration officials seeking asylum in the U.S.

These men now find themselves unjustly detained and isolated in the Sheridan Correctional Facility because of President Donald Trump's administration’s so-called “zero tolerance” policy, which has also led to the unconscionable separation of parents and children who came here seeking asylum.

Due to the careless and callous manner in which this was executed, some of them have lost contact and may never be reunited.

During my arrest, I observed my discomfort in opposing governmental authority and was humbly mindful of all those courageous protesters throughout history who have risked far more such as Martin Luther King, Jr.

Days before our protest, I found my spiritual grounding by re-reading King Jr.'s spiritual classic “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” which compellingly explains why nonviolent civil disobedience is sometimes necessary in the face of injustice.

One line from King Jr.'s letter particularly struck a chord: “Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.”

A few minutes before our arrest, I saw a family exiting ICE offices. Their sad and solemn faces told a story of hardship and heartbreak, which pierced my heart and called to mind all the many millions of people in our country who are living under a virtual reign of fear and terror intentionally engineered by ICE, whose chilling, systematic machinations threaten to disrupt the family lives of millions of our sisters and brothers.

Under the current administration, ICE is free to zealously, ruthlessly pursue all undocumented people, heedless of the horrendous consequences for so many. The alarming growth of this governmental agency of internal oppression bodes ill for the health of a free and open society.

So when the invitation came from IMMiRJ to join other clergy in nonviolent resistance to governmental abuse of power, I knew I had to accept because this was what love required of me – love for my neighbor.

And who is my neighbor? Centuries ago when Jesus was asked by a lawyer “who is my neighbor?” he replied with the parable of the Good Samaritan which unequivocally affirms that we’re all neighbors. All of us. No exceptions.

I invite those of you reading these words to ask yourself, “During these times of fear and oppression, what does love require of me?”

Rev. Richard R. Davis is senior minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem. Reach him at revrick@uusalem.org.